A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua)
MOSCOW, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia, with the first polling stations opening in the country's easternmost regions.
Polling stations in Kamchatka Krai and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug opened at 8 a.m. local time Friday (2000 GMT Thursday).
Under a decision by Russia's Central Election Commission, voting will be held over three days, from Sept. 18 to 20. ■
(260918) -- VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua)
(260918) -- VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Voters walk into a polling station in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua)
People vote at a polling station in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)
People vote at a polling station in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)
People vote at a polling station in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)
(260918) -- VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A voter walks into a polling station in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua)
(260918) -- VLADIVOSTOK, Sept. 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Vladivostok, Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Photo by Andrey Matveenko/Xinhua)
Voters are pictured at a polling station in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Sept. 18, 2026. Elections for deputies to the ninth convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, have kicked off across Russia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)